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S LATEST OFFICIAL 

MAP AND GUIDE 

iSuatemala and Eondurasi 




11 



J' 



/j^^ ^^/f^€fim (^^ma '-0kUfOd, 

President of Guatemala. 

A Short History of the thrifty Re- 
public of the South, containing all 
information that will be useful to the 
visitor, immigrant and workingman. 

...ISSUED BY... 

V. LAMANTIA LABOR AGENT, 

327 Exchange Alley, New Orleans, La. ^ 

:- Copyrighted 18S6, by V. Lamantia. 5- 

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4- 
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CO 




®o hta (Bxcellencti, 

JOSE IWflRIR mm BARRIOS, 

President of Guatemala. 
T/its little work is respect f idly 
dedicated as a slight acknowledge- 
ment of the many sterling' qualities 
of the most progressive ruler of 
that Republic. 

VINCENT LaMANTIA , 
Ex. U. S. Consul^ 

Catania^ Scicily. 



• • • • • • • 



• • • • • 



• • • i 






GDIITEPIflLII. 

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE 

THRIFTY REPUBLIC OF 

THE SOUTH. 



Containing All Information that 

Will Be Useful to the 

Visitor, Immigrant and 

Working Man. 



If there is a country where prog- 
ress and prosperity walk hand in 
hand, and over which the shadow of 
coining events now rests, Guatemala ife 
that country. It is the El Dorado of 
the laboring man and a mine oi 
wealh to the visitor. No lack of work, 
no want of money. 

'A history of the origin of Guate- 
mala will, of course, will be of no in- 
terest or moment to those who labor 
long for a livelihood. The following 



brief sketch of the state is therefore 
appended for the benefit of those who 
may wish to visit that country of 
sights and signs as a matter of edu- 
cation or amusement. 

In 1502 Columbus, the great navi- 
gator, landed on the coast of what is 
now known as Honduras, and took 
possession of that country in the name 
of Spain. In 1523 Cortez, after con- 
quoring Mexico, sent one of his offi- 
cers south. This officer made himself 
master of the northern portion of 
Central America, or what is now 
known as the state of Guatemala. 
This was virtually the origin and be- 
ginning of the country now attracting 
so much attention. In the course of 
a few years all the country gouth, em.' 
bracing the present ^ve Central Amer- 
ican states, was under the control of 
Spain, and was organized under the 
captain generalship of Guatemala, the 
other states being provinces. 

In 1820-21 Guatemala, or Central 
America, shook off the Spanish yoke, 
and for a time was a part of Mexico. 
In 1824 the Republic of Central Amer- 
ica was formed by a union of all the 
states, but this was dissolved in 1839 
by the withdraw^al of Honduras and 
Kicaragua. Matters continued in this 
state until 1872, when President Bar- 
nos (uncle of the present ruler), the 
President of Guatemala, made an ef- 
fort to form a federation of all ih^ 



— 3 — 
states, under the general name of the 
United States of Central America, 
Jealonsy of the other states and sus- 
picion of the President's motive 
caused dissention in the other states, 
and eventually led to war, in which 
Barrios, the originator of the great 
movement, lost his life, being lulled 
in the battle of Chalchuapa, in 1885. 
War and bloodshed continued in 
this portion of the world for some 
years, and this continued strife has 
tended to retard the development of 
the country. It has remained for Jose 
Maria Reina Barrios, the present 
ruler, to carry into effect a movement 
for the settlement and civilization. 

Guatemala is the most important of 
the five Central American Republics. 
It is third in size, but first in agricul- 
tural and commercial importance. It 
has an estimated area of 46,800 square 
miles. There are twenty-seven depart- 
mnts or counties, and there are 374 
cities and towns, and in 1870 had a 
population of 1,394,223. ' 

By the amended constitution of 1889 
executive power is vested in a Presi- 
dent, who is elected for six years, and 
a National Assembly, elected for four 
years. These are all chosen by uni- 
versal suffrage, the same as in the 
United States. 

The physical aspect of Guatemala is 
generally mountainous. The mouns- 
tains are covered with magnificent 



— 4 — 

forests, and from this the state takes 
its name, as the meaning of "Guate- 
mala" is "full of trees." 

The country has a great variety of 
climates. On the Pacific coast the heat 
is intense. On the Atlantic side it ia 
much cooler. As one leaves the sea* 
shore the climate changes and be- 
comes cooler as the distance increases. 
It is cold in the highlands, and some- 
times snows. The maximum temper- 
ature is 88 degrees, the minimum 38 
degrees, the average 65 degrees. 

VAKIOUS ALTITUDES. 

The city of Guatemala has an alti- 
tude of about 6,000 feet, same as the 
City of ^lexico. 

Amatitlan has an altitude of 4,212 
feet. Escuintla has has about the 
same. It is a popular health and sum- 
mer resort of the state. 

Antigua is one of the historic cities 
of the state. It was fonded in 1583. 
It is surrounded by rich lands, and is 
the center of the vast sugar and coft'ee 
interests. It has an elevation of 5,000 
feet. 

Chimaltenango is also a large and 
wealthy city. Here are located vast 
cotton factories, and other industries. 
It has an elevation of about 3,000 feet. 

The city of Coban has an elevation 
of 4,300 feet. It is the center of vast 
coffee and fruit interests. 

Zacapa is located in a fertile val- 



ley. It is a city of 44,000 people. It 
has an elevation of 600 feet. It is 
healthy and the climate agreeable. 

Chiqiiimnla is about the same ele- 
vation as Zacapa. It has a popula- 
tion of 63,000. 

Jalapa has an elevation of 6,000 feet. 
The climate is even, being^ very little 
change the year around. Agriculture 
is the prinncipal industry. 

Jutiapa is low, but the climate is 
healthy, although warm. Coft'ee and 
sugar is the principal industry. 

The towns mentioned are along the 
line of the railroad, and a very clear 
idea can thus be had of the climate, 
etc., along the line. 

IMMIGEATIOX. 

Guatemala is a healthy country, 
abundant in vacant and fertile lands, 
almost two-thirds of which are not 
cultivated for want of labor, and the 
country offers to immigrants great 
advantages. The soil lieeds no fertil- 
izers, and the industrious immigrant 
even without capital, will simply have 
to till the land slightly and sow the 
grani to obtain a sufficient crop after 
six months for the ample support of a 
family. 

The government encourages and 
protects immigration in a very liberal 
manner. Those who possess a little 
money can make a fortune within a 
few years. Others who have a profes- 



_^6 — 
Bioii or trade find -unlimited fields to 
exercise thein profitably. No person 
ever yet left the country on account ol 
a want of an opportunity to invest 
his capital or for lack of lucrative em- 
ployment, when he wanted to work. 

A few years ago a vessel with Ital- 
ian immigrants arrived in Guatemala 
and though nothing was prepared for 
them, every one found employment 
without dilficulty. Those who had no 
money, made a good living cut- 
ting grass from the fields and selling 
it in the cities. Others cultivated gar- 
dens, and did well with vegetables, 
etc. Others raised pigs, chickens, etc., 
and made money. 

THE PURCHASE OF LANDS. 

The following are the principal ar- 
ticles of the code concerning the pur- 
chase of vacant lands: 

Two dollars per hectare (21 acres), 
if the lands are level and covered with 
natural pasture. 

One dollar and a half if the land is 
level and covered with brush, from 
which sassaparilla, gutta-percha, etc., 
can be obtained. 

One dollar if there are no bushes, 
but none of the above products. 

Eighty cents if the lands are broken, 
stony, etc. 

Lands that are within sixty miles of 
a city are appraised at about one- 
quarter increase. 



The appraisement of lands is mado 
by experts, 

COST OF AKTICLES OF FAMILY 
USE. 

Fresh beef, 8 cents; coffee, 12 cents; 
flour, $8 per hundred pounds; butter, 
40 cents per pound; tobacco, 40 cents 
per pound; soap, 10 cents; oranges, 
per 100, 15 cents; eggs, 10 cents; wood 
for fuel, 30 cents per load. 

Animals. 

Horses, $40 to $80; mules, $60 to 
$320; cattle, average price, $14. 

Wages are never less than $1 per 
day. 

All the prices here gaven are in 
Guatemala money. 

HOW TO GO. 
In former days the trip from the 
United States to Guatemala was a 
matter of serious thought, and con- 
Bumed much time. Steamers only left 
New York at irregular, intervals, and 
the time was something over fourteen 
days, and the fare was $45. Passen- 
gers were compelled to go by the Isth- 
mus of Panama and up thePacific side 
to San Jose. Now the trip is a small 
matter of ^ye days, with comfort and 
ease, and the cost is $30 or $18. For 
this shortening of time the public is 
indebted to the New Orleans, Belize 
and Royal Mail Steamship Company of 
New Orleans, and known as the Ma- 



— 8 — 
clilca line. The lleet is composed of 
five steamers, and was organized by 
Messrs John and Mike Macheca 
J<:nown as the "Macheca Bros." At the 
beginning there were only two ves- 
sels. 

The present personnel of the line 
is John and Mike ^lacheca, Joe and 
Peter Torre, Mr D. Cifalu, John B. 
Cifalu and Captain Leech. All enter- 
prising people, to whom Guatemala 
ow'es much of her progress and pros- 
perity. 

The vessels now composing the Ma* 
chica line are the Breakwater, Still- 
water, Clearwater (to and from Mo- 
bile), the Wanderer, the Foxhall, and 
formerly the City of Dallas, which was 
lost at sea not many months ago. 

The Breakwater is the flagship of 
the fleet, and is commanded by Capt. 
Louis Kivara, a courteous Genow^ese 
mariner, and a lineal descendant of 
the great navigator Columbus. He is 
assisted by Mr. Wm. Grant, purser, 
w^ho does all within his power to make 
the trip on his boat a pleasant and 
instructive one. 

The Stilhvater is next in importance 
and i-s commanded by Capt. Henry 
Gait, with Mr. L. Harang purser. The 
Clearwater is next, wdth Capt. McFar- 
land on the bridge and Mr. J. Lowe 
purser. Next is the Foxhall, Capt. 
Leslie in charge and Mr. Wm. Mache- 
ca in charge of accounts. The Wan- 



derer completes the list of vessels, 
with Capt. Brown in command and 
]Mr. W. Vvasson, purser. All of these 
gentlemen have sailed the ocean blue 
lor many years, and passengers on 
either vessel will be given every atten- 
tion, and meet with that true bon 
homme that stamps the true mariner. 

The vo3^age from New Orleans is via 
Belize and Livingston, the steam- 
er arriving in Baiize on Sunday night. 
Leaving Belize, a run of twenty-four 
hours down the bay brings the vessel 
to Livingston, w^here connection is 
made wath steamboats running up Rio 
Dulce and across Lake Izabal to Pan- 
zos. From Livingston the vessel 
crosses the bay (nine miles) to Puerto 
Barrios, when the voyage to Guate- 
mala ends. The vessel proceeds to 
Puerto Cortez, in Honduras, and be- 
gins its return trip to Xew^ Orleans. 
arriving on Monday evening. 

On leaving the vessel at Puerto Bar- 
rios passengers proceed by mail to 
Gualin, a distance of SO miles. The 
railroad is now complete and in oper- 
ation to that point — the fare is 4 cents 
per mile. From Gualan the trip to 
Guatemala City is made by mule train 
and is completed in three days. The 
fare is $20. 

From this it will be seen that in- 
«^t.ead of a sea voyage of fourteen days 
the traveler now reaches the capital 



— 10 — 
city in eight days, with an interesting 
overlana trip after the sea voyage. 

RAILROADS. 

It was only in recent years that 
Guat-emala made anything like pro- 
gress in railroad building. In 1871 a 
concession was granted for a railroad 
This was granted to Messrs. Leland 
Standferd, C. P. Huntington and oth* 
ers. The road was not opened to trafic 
however until 1880. The line is seven- 
ty-one miles long, and connects the 
capital with the Pacific Ocean. From 
Champirico to Ratallhullen, a distance 
of twenty-five miles, a road is operated 
by the government, and arrangements 
have been perfected to extend it fur- 
ther north. These two lines were, up 
to 1884, the only railroads in the state. 

In 1884 the Guatemala Northern, 
from Puerto Barrios to Guatemala 
City, was begun. This was under the 
airection of President Barrios, the el- 
der, who with his own hands threw 
the first spade of dirt that marked the 
beginning. Work continued for about 
twelve months, w^hen it was brought 
to an abrupt close by the declaration 
of war and subsequent death of Pres- 
ident Barrios on the battle field. 

In ISbS a contract was made with 
an English company to complete the 
line, but it amounted to nothing. 
Later, in 1889, another contract was 



— 11 — 

made with a French company, who 
also failed to carry out their plans. 

During the operations of the Eng- 
lish compan^^ in ^.-^6 there was ciu 
American engineer employed on the 
work. At the breaking out of the 
war this man left the country and 
joined the Panama Canal Company. 
When the expose of that comx^any 
came the American returned to Gua* 
temala. The present President Bar- 
rios was then in charge, and at his 
request the ^^merican reported oili- 
cialy as to the practicability of com- 
I)leting the line begun by the former 
President. As nothing was impossi- 
ble to this man, he, at the request of 
President Barrios, took charge of the 
work and built eighty miles. This 
American was Sylvanus Miller, the 
man now in charge of the road. 

This road is now under the general 
management of Mr. [Miller A. Smith, 
a competent and XDopular railroad 
manager. 

Track laying has just b^icn com- 
pleted between Gualan and Zacapa, 
and grading from Zacapa on toward 
the cai)ital is now under ^vay, under 
Qirection of the leading contractors, 
Messrs. R. H. May, Fred Prescott, Clay 
Parks, \Vm. Penny and K. E. Cald- 
well. 

From San Jose, on the Pacific side, 
a line is in operation to Guatemala 
City, a distance of seventy-one miles. 



— 12 — 
This ii the Huntington system. 

Another short line is operated by 
the government from Camprico to Ra^ 
talhulan. 

PROPOSED LINES. 

Thus lar mention has been made 
only of xne lines in operation. The 
system of proposed lines is extensive, 
and w^hen completed will give Guate- 
mala a m.ost complete railroad sys- 
tem. As already mentioned, the line 
from Gualan to Guatemala City is in 
course of construction. In addition to 
this, a line is being built from Panzos 
to Coban, under direction oi Mr. Geo. 
Jeckeyl, thus connecting the coifee 
interest of that section with naviga- 
tion through Lake Izabel to Living- 
ston. From Panzos a line Vv'ill be 
built south to Zacapa, and from Za- 
capa to Jutiapa, through Jalapa. From 
Coban the line starts south, and is 
surveyed into Guatemala City and 
from the city to S. Geromino, on the 
coast. 

From Zacapa another line croses to 
Hon auras and connects with the In- 
ter-Oceanic at S. Baraba. 

When these lines are all complete 
the rich agricultural portions of c.ie 
state will be open to commerce, and 
ample facilities afforded to handle the 
products, all o.. which wil be brought 
into Puerto Barrios for export, Gua- 
tamala can then boast of one of the 



— 18 — 

most complete as well as extensive 
railway sjctems extant, and the three 
factors in bringing' this about will 
be: President Barrios, for his enter- 
prise and patriotism; Sylvanus Miller, 
for his ability as an engineer and con- 
tractor, and the Macheca line, for 
facilities in shipping and handling 
material. 

In addition to the railroads, the 
country abounds in trails and roads 
throughout all the sections not 
touched by rail. All the cities and 
towns are connected by these public 
highways, and, where no rail facilities 
are to be had, traders and settlers will 
have no trouble in going from town to 
town. 

GENERAL INFORMATION. 

To the hustling investor, Gaute- 
maula offers superior inducements, 
and the capital required is more in the 
line of *' willingness" than money. The 
cultivation of coffee has made immense 
fortunes for all those who have en- 
gaged in it, and this fact has caused 
the inhabitants and those who cared 
to work, to neglect the lesser lines of 
Work. This refers to the food supply, 
or articles of home consumption. All 
of which are neglected and will give 
vast returns to "small investors" who 
uses his brain as well as brawn. 

Everything the people eat is im- 



— 14 — 
ported. Beef, vegetables, grain, fruit, 
etc., are bought, not raised. Here there 
is an opening for men of moderate 
means. Cattle are shiped to the state 
by hundreds for beef, and yet the 
whole state, with its natural pas- 
tures and its even climate is a natural 
stock farm. Watermelons are shipped 
from ]New Orleans, and sell for $1 each 
in the various cities of the state, and 
yet the soil and climate produce the 
largest and best melons to be had in 
any clime. Vegetables of all kinds are 
shipped in, and command better prices 
and find readier sale than in the 
United States. Yet the best gardeners 
in the world can be had in Guatemala. 
The same conditions exist in dairy 
products, wine, chocolate, honey, and 
all those little things so common and 
so necessary in the United States. The 
reason for\his is found in the fact 
that those who are able to buy de- 
vote their time- and money to coffee, 
and the poorer clases are too indo- 
lent to raise and sell an article that 
they consider useless, because not nee- 
essarv to sustain life 

Tokcco culture is another branch 
that cannot fail to pay. This indus- 
try is specially protected by the gov^ 
ernment, and premiums are offered 
for the largest amount raised by each 
planter. i:very native who raises five 
or more '^cargas" of tobacco is ex^ 
empt from military or municipal duty. 



-^ 15 — 
A *carg'as'- is about one hundred 
pounds. 

The country around Zacapa and Chi- 
quimula is the tobacco growing por- 
tion of the state. 

The articles of food that are import* 
ed because the natives will not raise 
them is as follows: Wheat, barley, po- 
tatoes, corn, beans, rice, hay, lard, salt 
and dairy products. 

Guatemala is very rich in minerals. 
Silver and gold is found in paying 
quantities almost all over the state. 
Detailed particulars of this branch can 
be had by application to the govern- 
ment or any agent of the country. The 
minerals include silver, gold, salt, 
chalk, quicksilver, lead, copper, mica, 
etc. All these can be worked in pay- 
ing quantities, and the mining laws 
of the etate are liberal and encourag- 
ing to prospectors. 

Foreigners on arriving in the terri- 
tory are strictly enjoined to respect 
the authorities and to obey the laws, 
for by so doing they acquire the right 
of being protected by them. 

Neither natives nor foreigners can 
claim indemnity for damages or injury 
to their property or person, caused by 
revolution. 

Property is declared inviolable. Ex« 
propriation proceedings can be insti- 
tuted only for motives of public in- 
terest, legally; process, in which case, 



— 16 — 

the owner may receive full value ot 
his property in current money. 

Every service which, by virtue of 
law, cannot be rendered gratuitously, 
shall be properly remunerated. 

No one can be arrested or impris 
oned except for offense against the 
government. Every person arrested 
shall be examined within forty-eight 
hours. The detention shall not exceed 
five days; within that time the author- 
ities shall justify the imprisonment 
or set the prisoner at liberty. 

The government of every depart- 
ment, or county, is exercised by a 
political chief. Eaeh town is controlled 
by a local authority, who is under the 
county officer. 

In order to obtain concessions for 
building, privileges to cut timber or 
any other enterprise, application must 
be made to the government. 

There is a generally accepted belief 
among those who do not post them- 
selves, that Guatemala is a "fever 
breeding death trap." They think 
and believe that to go to that country 
means to expose themselves to death 
and sickness. This is a very mistaken 
idea, as nothing of the kind exists. 
There is no "swamp" in Guatemala; 
no marshes; no stagnant water or 
"boggs." The country being moun- 
tainous, is well drained, and the air 
is pure. The strip of country along 



— 17 — 
the coast, varying in width from three 
to ten miles, is low and hot. During 
the months of July, August and Sep« 
tember rain falls daily during this 
period. This is what is called the 
"rainy season." Along the coast the 
dampness and extreme heat during 
these months make it very unpleas- 
ant for foreigners, and this strip is 
where the fever makes its appearance. 
Everyone who goes there is by no 
means liable to sickness, the fever ap- 
pearing only among those who re- 
main in that part five or six months. 
Back from the coast the high land be- 
gins, and settlers are not subjected 
to the same conditions as along the 
coast. 

American Consuls are stationed at 
the principal points. 

Parties going about the country and 
leaving the state must have a "pass 
port." This can be had from any oi 
the Consulates. 

Any article of wearing apparel, 
food, tools, etc., can be purchased in 
the state. The prices are about the 
same as in the United States, 
prepared for cold nights Parties g 

Parties going to Guatemala should 
go prepared for cold nights, as the 
temperature falls, and travelers and 
settlers sleep under two or more blan- 
kets. If they intend to stop along the 
coast they should take a mosquito bar. 



— 18 — 
liiaukets aud bars command good 
prices. 

Doctors, hospitals, etc., can be found 
witho'il trouble in case of need. 

COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGES. 

In his annual report to the Secretary 
of State, dated January 18, 1891, Mr. 
Samuel Kimberly, the United States 
consul-g-eneral, submitted much infor- 
matiou of value concerning the com- 
mercial opportunites for the mer- 
chants and manufacturers of the 
United States in Guatemala, from 
Avhich a considerable portion of this 
chapter is compiled. 

The merchants throughout the inte- 
rior of the country are usually dealers 
in general merchandise, that is, they 
carry mixed stocks of goods, compris- 
ing a little of everything that is 
wanted by the people, nine-tenths ot 
whom are agriculturists and laborers, 
and require the cheaper grades of 
clothing and dress goods, crockery, 
etc. Their capital is usually small and 
they procure their supplies from the 
wholesale dealers in the larger cities 
of the Republic, carrying stocks rep- 
resenting a value of from $5,000 to 
$15,000, about one-half of which is pur- 
chased on credit from six to nine 
months' time, with interest of 7, 9, and 
10 per cent. The goods are transport- 
ed from Guatemala city and other com- 
mercial centers on pack muies, ox 



— 19 — 
carts, and b}' *'carg-adores" — men who 
carry packs on their back — and take 
loads of 125 pounds. A mule carries 
250 pounds, but the load must be di- 
rided into two packages of 125 pounds 
each to be handled conveniently. Foi 
this reason manufacturers and ex- 
porters in the United States should ob- 
serve the greater care in the packing 
of articles for that market, making 
the packages not heavier in weight 
than 125 pounds, as secure and com- 
pact as possible and without any un- 
necessary w^eight. The same condi- 
tions apply to Mexico, and all the 
countries of Central and South Amer- 
ica. 

There is general complaint through- 
out all the American Kepublics about 
the carelessness of packing in the 
United States, and for that reason 
ranch trade goes to Europe where 
packing has been reduced to a fine 
art. It is particularly necessary that 
goods for Guatemala ^nd other Cen- 
tral American countries should be 
carefully packed because of the rough 
hadling the}^ receive on the Isthmus 
of Panama, and at San Jose, and 
Champerico, the two Pacific seaports 
of Guatemala. 

Merchants in the larger cities ot 
Guatemala carry stocks valued from 
$25,000 to $100,000. 

In his report, Consul-General Kim- 
berly saj^s; "That there need be no 



— 20 — 

apprehension as to eolleetioiis, for i 
have discovered that business failures 
are exceedingly rare, and fraudulent 
business failures are unknown here. 
In fact, the laAvs of this Republic are 
of such a string-ent character that one 
having failed in business must show 
to the legal authority that he has fully 
paid off all previous liability before 
he can recommence. The merchants, 
and especially the larger houses, are 
as a rule thoroughly strict and reli- 
able, and are composed of all nation- 
alities, the Germans, however, predom- 
inating." 

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 

The standard of weight adopted ia 
the Spanish pound. One libra is six- 
teen ounces; one aroba is twenty-five 
pounds. 

In measuring distance the Spanish 
vera is the standard. A "vera" is three 
feet. Five thousand veras is equal to 
4,180 kilomenters, and constitute a 
league, or three English miles. 

MONEY. 

The national standard for money is 
the dollar, which contains 900 grains 
of silver. 

A peso, or dollar, is worth 100 cents. 
A pesata is 25 cents; a real is w^orth 
12^ cents; a medio is 61 cents; a 
cuartillo is 3i cents. There is also in 
circulation 15 and 10 cent pieces. 



— 21 — 
MAILS. 

Guatemala entered the Universal 
Postal Union in 1881. The mail ser- 
vice is perfectly organized, according 
to the best systems in operation. Res- 
idents and visitors will have no 
trouble in receiving and forwarding 
mail matter. The rates are as follows: 
Letters, 5 cents; papers, 1 cent. 

TELEGRAPH. 

The state has a fine telegraph sys- 
tem. Lines bringing all the princi- 
pal points of the state into communi- 
cation. There is estimated to be about 
3,000 miles of telegraph lines in oper- 
ation. The rates are about the same 
as in the United States. All messages 
are sent in Spanish. 

MINES AND MINING. 

Guatemala is very rich in mines and 
minerals. Gold and silver is mined 
in paying quantities, but the method 
is crude and primitive, most of it be- 
ing "placier." The mines are scatter- 
ed all over the state and along the 
Guatemala Northern Railway there 
are very rich deposits and operated 
mines. It is liberal in its mining laws 
and in fact offers inducements for 
their development. 

The following provisions of the law 
will give a correct idea of the inan« 
ner of acquiring and working* miacs, 



— 22 — 

Auriferous sandf}, iron deposits 
etc., in river bed^ or placiers, on 
whatever land they may be found are 
free to all persons w^ithout special per- 
rait. 

All persons, either native or foreign 
who shall discover a deposit, ledge 
or vein shall be entitled to the conces^ 
sion thereof. 

All persons who shall work old or 
abandoned mines shall be considered 
as discoverer, and shall be entitled to 
the undisputed possession. 

These are the main features govern^ 
ing' prospectors. Claims for ''blind 
leads," etc., are about the same as in 
the United States. A copy of themin- 
ing laws can be had by application to 
the government. 

EDUCATION. 

For some years past the government 
of Guatemala has cultivated with the 
greatest care the development of pub- 
lic instruction, which is free of charge 
and compulsory. There are 1252 
schools throughout the Republic. 

In addition to these, the Eepublic 
has "A National Library," containing 
30,000 volumes. 

A Conservatory of Music and four- 
teen schools of music; all maintained 
at a cost of about $7,000. 

There are mree schools of Arts and 
Trades, employing ten professors and 
thirty foremen in the ^\ui\^ sho^ .. 



— 23 — 

Recently the government has author- 
ized the establishment of one of these 
schools for women. 

The g-overnment has established six 
Central Technical Colleges, viz: The 
Law School; The College of Medicine 
and Pharmacy and the College of En- 
2"ineers — two of each* 



— 24 — 

LABOR. 

The shipping of negro laborers from 
New Orleans to Guatemala has been 
a matter of serious importance during 
the last few years. 

The Guatemala Northern Railroad 
system has been virtually worked by 
said labor, which labor, four years ago. 
when Sylvanus Miller was constructing 
the road himself; the negroes then 
tlocked from every Southern State 
crowding the labor agencies for ship- 
ment to Guatemala, for work on said 
road. Unfortunately, among them were 
some lazy, w^orthless, barrel-house ne- 
groes, who, being under the constant 
surveillance of the police, and liable to 
arrest here, preferred to be shipped tc 
Guatemala. Said negroes, intending tc 
pursue the same course of life over there 
refused to work; hence trouble ensued 
between them and the contractors. 

Those negroes, gamblers by trade, OU' 
of their first earnings, bought their tick- 
ets and returned here. Awful have beer, 
their tales of ill-treatment and starva- 
tion by the management of the contract 
ors. Their imaginary wrongs, witl: 
their false statements published in tht 
press, to the grots injustice of their em- 
ployersi. 

These lying statements have caused a 
bugbear among the better class of ne- 
groes, who under no circumstances 
could be induced to go. Others, still, ok 
the contrary, have come back to see 
|:heir friends here, and have willingly 



— 35 — 

returned there. 

, In speaking about starvation, the fol- 
lowing weekly list of provisions fur- 
nished by Mr. S. Miller to laborers at 
the cost of 50 cents per day, in Guate- 
mala money,, which is equal to 25 cents 
United States currency, will prove the 
falsity of said statements; 

2 pounds fresh meat. 

3 pounds smoked sides 
2 pounds salt beef. 

5 pounds flour. 

5pounds cornmeal. 

2 pounds beans. 

2 pounds rice. 

ipound lard. 

2 pounds brown sugar . 

1 pound onions. 

1 pound dried apples. 

1-4 pound tea. 

1-4 pound coffee. 

The same trouble exists with some 
"hobos" who go on transportation with 
the sole purpose of visiting- the country 
at he expense of the contractors, and 
as they are compelled to^ work out their 
transportation, they complain like the 
negroes. 

The contractors want he men; they pay 
the wages, hence they want the work 
for it. 

The wages paid to laborers and me^ 
chanics are as follows: 

Laborers for railroad work— $3.00 per 
day. 

Section foremen — $150 per month. 

Conductors —$150 per month, with 
board. 



Brakemen— $109 per month, with board. 

Engineers— From $7.00 to $9.00 per day, 
no board. 

Firemen — $3.00 per day, no board. 

Machinists— From $6.00 to $8.00 per day, 
no board. 

House and bridge carpenters — From 
$5.00 to 7.00 per day, according to their 
ability. 

Sawmill laborers— $2.00 to $3.00 per day, 
no board. 

Sawmill mechanics — $5.00 to $G.GO per 
day, no board. 

Timbermen and ox-drivers- -From 3.00 
to $5.00, no board. 

Hewers^From $15.00 to $16.00 per 1000 
board measure, no board. 

Ties— 6x8, 7 :'eot l».ng, left at iho stump. 
40 cents each, no board. 

Laborers for rock work— $'3.00 per day, 
no board. 

Stonecutters— $6.00 to $8.00 per day, no 
board. 

All wages are paid in Guatemala 
money. 

Board can be had at the following 
raites: 50 cents, 75 cents, $1.00 and $1.50 
per day, also in Guatemala money. 

Rook w^ork by contract — $1.25 per cubic 
yard, and 15 cents extra for filling. 
ADVICE TO LABORERS. 

Laborers and mechanics, when shipped 
on transportation, must not misrepre- 
sent their occupation when they apply 
for shipment to Guatemala; otherwise 
they will be the sufferers. 

, There is plenty of railroad, rock and 
timber work for all classes of laborers 
and mechanics. 



— 27 — 

Work is not compulsory in Guatemala, 
unless the transportation ticket is 
paid; when then the laborer is at liberty 
tO' work wherever and for whoever he 
pleases. Therefore be careful tO' abide in 
good faith by the above advice; other- 
wise you will be subject to arrest. 

If possible, pay your own transporta- 
tion, as you will then be under no obli- 
gation to either employer or contractor, 
and you will feel the benefit of it. 



— 28 — 
EXHIBITION. 

By act of the Legislators of Guate- 
mala, Central America, of May the 8th. 
1894. it was decided for President Bar- 
ries to open the first exhibition at Gua- ^ 
temala City on the 15th day of March, 
1897, and close the same on the 15ti. 
day of July following. 

The exhibition will be held in the Ex 
hibition Building, covering twelv^c 
block, 8082 square miles. 

The exhibition will comprise all 
branches of Science, Art, Industry and 
the natural products of the five Repub- 
lics of Central America. 

All articles sent to this exhibition 
should bemarked Exhibition Bunlding, 
Central America, and should be well 
packed, for the committee will only be 
responsible for articles received in good 
condition. All articles sent to this ex- 
hibition will be free from duty. 

No rent or space will be charged for 
any article sent to this exhibition. 

Reduced rates will be given by all 
railroad and steamship companies for 
all articles sent to this exhibition. 

Fifteen thousand dollars in cash prizes 
will be given away to winners of differ- 
ent articles. Also, gold, silver and 
bronze medals. 

In making application for space for 
exhibit, the number, size and nature of 
the objects must be stated. All aplica- 
tions must be made to the Central Com- 
mittee, which committee will clear 
through any of the customhouse of the 
Republic of Guatemala all articles ad- 
dressed to the Central American Exhi- 
t>ition. 



— 29 — 

Prices to the exhibition is 25 cents. 
children under 10 years of age free. 

Many are the advantages t-o be gained 
by seeing this exhiibtion. It will brin.^- 
many objects together, so we may-coni- 
pare them; we shall learn what we do 
not know, and improve what we already 
know. We may communicate to others 
a knowledge of their production, and jt 
will thus awaken human labor. 

DISTANCES. 

For the benefit of anyone who intend 
to emigrate to Guatemala, the following 
information taken from the Geua del 
Immigrants published in Guatemala, 
in June, 18S6, is here given: 

The distances btween the capital of the 
Republic and the heads of departm.ents 
are to the: To the Antigua (department 
of Sacatepeguy), 9 leagues or 27 miles; to 
Chimaltenaugo (department of same 
name), 12 leagues or 36 miles; to Amatit- 
lan, (department of same name), 6 
leagues or 18 miles; to Escuintla, 14 1-2 
leagues or 43 1-2 miles; to Cuaziniguilapa 
(Santa Rosa), 14 leagues or 42 miles; to 
Solola, 30 leagues or 90 miles. 

To Totonicapau, 37 leagues or 111 miles; 
to Quezaltnaugo, 40 leagues or 120 miles; 
to Mazatenaugo (Sechitepeguez), 45 
leagues or 120 miles; to Retalhuleu, 51 
leagues or 153 miles; to San Marco, 55 
leagues or 165 miles; to Huchuetenaugo, 
65 leagues or 195 miles; to Santa Cruz del 
Quiche, 32 leagues or 96 miles; to Salama 
(Bajaverapez), 23 leagues or 69 miles; to 
Coban (Alta Verapaz), 42 leagues or 126 



— 30 — 

miles; to Flores (Peten), 107 leagues or 
321 miles; to Izabal, 72 leagues or 216 
miles; to Zacapa, 42 leagues or 126 miles; 
to Chiquimula, 45 leagues or 136 miles; 
to Jalapa. 25 Icagnes or 87 miles.. 
EXPORTATION. 
Coffee Is the pricipal article of expor- 
tation and to prove the increase of this 
indwustry it is only necessary to notice 
the following tables, taken from the offi- 
cial documents from 1883 to 1893, a period 
of ten years; 

Value. 

1883 $4,848,832 68 

1893 18,550,518 73 

As will be seen by the above state- 
ment there has been an increase in the 
exportation of coffee in a period of ten 
years of $13,700,686 05— a magnificent 
showing. All of the work was done by 
native labor. How much more would 
have been achieved by American skilled 
laborers. 



— 31 — 

LEMON CULTURE. 

Lemon culture in Guatemala has been 
entirely neglected by the inhabitants of 
that country, althoug-h no part of Amer- 
ica has been so favored by nature for 
the successful cultivation of this fruit. 
A lemon grove could be brought in to 
bearing- in less than half the time it re- 
quires in any other portion of this conti- 
nent by a method we shall proceed co 
explain. The lime tree grows wild all 
over Central America, and especially in 
Guatemala, They grow in all parts of 
the Republic, from the sea level to an 
altitude of 5000 feet above it. The fruit 
is small (about the size of an English 
walnut) but very juicy. By grafting thf 
Sicilian, California or Florida lemon in-c 
these trees, a bearing grove in live and a 
half or six years, may be looked for 
The trees need very little cultivation 
and in seting- out a grove it is only nec- 
essary to plant fifteen feet apart, and 
keep the ground clean around the roots 
GrafU'ng is Ocne by splits or by-shields 
Tiie latter is more generally in use, anc^ 
tha proper season is in the month iif ?ylay 
or October. The first method is called 
"sleeping eye," because'it is necessary tc 
wait till the spring to see whether the 
grafting has been successful. The latter 
is pract'cc-d by the most intelligent grow- 
ers and is called the "living eye" for the 
reason that should it fail in the coming 
fall it 19 (operated on again. 

The shoots are to be chosen from the 
best and most vigorous lemon trees, and 
in the fifth or sJxth year, one may have 



— 32^ 

a iiiie bfaring^ l^mon grove, fruiting- all 
the year re mJ. A ten-year-old tree pro- 
duces 500 lemons, while at fifteen 1000 is 
an oidinaiy yield. Pruning is done ac 
cording co the growth of the tree. Thc^ 
mechod most generally in use is an in- 
verted cone. This form is obtained by 
cutting down the main trunk, and let- 
ting the lateral branches grow in ( r<ler 
to have all the ventilation and sunligiit 
possible. 

This would be the best paying indus- 
try, next to coffee, without any doubt, 
when we consider that over me miihon 
boxes of lemons are imported annunLy 
from Sicily alone to this State The 
numbers we receive from Spain iuid tiie 
South of Fiance are not included in ihe 
calculation. 

This proiilable industry awaits (jnly the 
skilful hand of the American emigrant 
to give it the impetus it deserves. The 
same rema.-k applies to oranges, whicn, 
in Guatemala and Honduras, grow the 
year rrund, and are exported to this 
country in crates one-half of them rot- 
ting fuv want of careful packing. 



35 — 



HONDURAS. 



While Guatemala is making tremen* 
dous strides in railroad building and 
general grogress, Honduras, her sister 
republic, has not been idle. A conces- 
sion has been granted to a northern 
syndicate for the building of two rail- 
road systems; the Inter-Oceanic and 
the Puerto Cortez Truxillo line, which 
w^ill, like the Northern of Gaatemala, 
connect the two shores of the state, 
aiid open to settlers and investors the 
vast agricultural and mineral wealth 
of the state. 

In the line of possibilities thus 
opened, Honduras will outrank Guate- 
mala in importance of the fruit pro- 
ducts, being peculiarly adapted to 
the cultivation of all trox^ical fruits. 
Foremost among the fruits of Hon- 
duras is the banana, which grows 
wild all over the valleys of the state. 
In years gone by thousands of tons of 
these bananas ripened and rotted on 
the tree, because there was no one to 
cut them, and no merchant to buy. 
Xow all is changed. 

Two firm^, to whom full credit must 



be given, opened the fruit trade between 
Honduras and America, and to whom 
Honduras is indebted for having led 
other enterprising Americans to go to 
Honduras and take advantage of na- 
ture's rich gifts. Now the delicious 
fruit of the Honduras fields are 
brought almost daily to our doors. 

The banana, now so plentiful and 
well known, is comparatively new in 
the fruit market, dating back only 
about thirty years. At the beginning 
transportation facilities were so lim- 
ited that it was impossible to bring the 
fruit to market in anything like sale- 
able condition; the transportation was 
confined to small sailing vessels, and 
the length of time required to make 
the voyage permitted the fruit to 
ripen and spoil before the vessel 
reached port. The supply was, there^ 
fore, limited, and was barely enough 
to supply the small city trade of New 
Orleans, and the sale was mostly to 
negroes and the lower classes. 

About 186G a steamer was put in the 
trade. This vessel was chartered by a 
company known as the "Black Ball'* 
line. Aft^r two years of unsuccessful 
business the company dissolved. Sal- 
vado and Joseph Otari, stockholders 
in the company, then bought a steam- 
er and began the business in their 
own names. This was the first line 
to Central America, and is now known 
as the "Pioneer Liiie.*' 



— 55^ 

Soon after the Otari line started the 
Maeheca Brothers began the same 
business, and these two firms virtu- 
ally forced the people of th^ Northern 
cities to recognize the banana as a 
staple article. They appointed agents 
in all the principal cities and pushed 
the business to its present immense 
proportions. 

Following the Macheca line came: 

The Bocas del Toro and Colon line. 

The Costa Ixica line. 

The Campania Agricola Mechantile. 

The Carribbean Banana Company. 

An amusing incident, illustrating 
how little w as known of the banana at 
that time is shown by the follow^ing 
experience of Mr. V. Lamantia, of 
New Orleans: 

In 18G4 he shipped fifty bunches of 
bananas from New Orleans to St. 
Louis; the fruit cost him at New Or- 
leans $5.00 per bunch. At St. Louis he 
was unable to find buyers, and re- 
shipped to Louisville, Ky. Here he 
again failed to get dealers to handle 
the fruit, and in order to reach the 
people he oj^ened a stand in the mar- 
ket and tried to sell at retail. As no 
one knew what a banana was, a 
crowd ^vould gather and such ques- 
tions as "\Miat are those things?" 
"Where did you get them?" "How do 
you eat them?" etc., was asked. In or- 
der to answer them he hired a boy to 
Qvj the fruit and to eat some of it be- 



— be- 
fore the crowd. Occasionaly one 
would be induced to taste it in a hes- 
itating" manner, and the verdict was 
usually an uncertain" shake of the 
head. 'As a result of this uphill busi- 
ness the fruit ripened and spoiled, and 
was thrown away. This was the state 
of the banana trade in 1864. ComiDare 
this with the present enormous busi- 
ness, and a correct idea of the growth 
of the banana business can be had. 

The steamship lins now bring to 
New Orleans millions of bunches, to 
say nothing of the trade through New 
\ork, Boston, Philadelphia and Mo- 
bile, all of which dates its beginning 
from the Oteri Brothers' first venture* 

In Central America there are thous- 
ands of acres of land suitable for ba- 
nana culture, and waiting for set- 
tlers who is now always sure of a mar- 
ket for his crop. 

Honduras has now one line of rail- 
way in operation, running from Puerto 
Cortez to San Pedro. This line does 
a good fruit business, and will bo 
taken up by the Inter-Oceanic. 



— 37 — 
DUTIES ON IMPORTS. 
The tariff of Guatemala as here printed 
is the latest official publication of that 
country; but a number of decrees modi- 
fying the same have been issued, princi- 
pal among- which is the one promulgated 
October 23, 1885, aug-menting- the duties 
20 per cent on all merchandise imported 
into the country; consequently that per- 
centag-e should be added to these rates. 

The Guatemalan peso was valued by 
the Director of the Mint of the United 
States October 1, 1891, at 72.3 cents. 
SECTION I. 
Articles Prohibited. 
Bullets, iron or lead, bombs, hand gre- 
nades and other projectiles of war. 
Cannons or other pieces of artillery. 
Carbines, rifles or muskets, military. 
Counterfeit money. 
Machinery and materials for coining or 

printing money. 
Nitrate of potash, or saltpetre, exceed- 
ing 25 pounds. 
Nitro-glycerine and dynamite. 
Obscene pictures, books or objects, and 
such as are contrary to good morals 
and customs. 
Powder of all kinds, exceeding 2 pounds. 
Tobacco leaf. 

Tobacco, manufactured, exceeding 5 
pounds. 

Merchandise impoited into the Repub- 
lic is divided into six classes: 

(1) Free list. 

(2) Articles paying 10 per cent. 

(3) Articles paying 25 per cent. 

(4) Articles paying 70 per cent. 

(5) Trade with the Central American 



Hopublics. 

(6) Trade with the Mexican Republic. 

The appraisements established in this 
code shall be the basis for the collection 
of import duties. 



SECTION II. 
Free List. 

Anchors and hauling- lines. 

Animals, live, for breeding-, or stuffed. 

Articles imported by the g-overnment or 
municipalities for public use or for 
charitable institutions 

Articles imported for their own use by 
diplomatic ministers residing in the 
Republic, providing the privilege is 
reciprocal and the provisions of this 
code are complied with Consuls and 
vice-consuls do not enjoy the exemp- 
tion 

Bagg-ag-e of passengers, the term includ- 
ing all articles of personal use and in- 
dispensable instruments belonging to 
the profession or business of the owner 
in proportion to his station and cir- 
cum.stances; also furniture in use by 
parties intending to establish them- 
selves in the country. 

Beans. 

Boats, tackle, sails, chains, and other 
equipments for vessels, for use in the 
ports and on the lakes of the Republic. 

Books, used. 

Bricks, fire, and crucibles for smelting. 

Buildings, frame or iron, complete. 

Cement, Roman, or hydraulic lime. 

Coal. 

Corn. 

Crucibles and other apparatus for assay- 
ing metals. 



♦ —39 — 

Diamonds and o-ther precious tones, un* 

set. 
Fragments and rigging of shipwrecked 

vessels. 
Fuse, for mines. 
Gas, apparatus for making. 
Geld and silver in bars, dust, or coined. 
Guano and other fertilizers. 
Hay and other feed not specified. 
Iron, pig, or in bulk, in quantities not 

less than 5 pounds. 
Lodestone. 
Lumber, rough. 
Machinery, unknown in the country, and 

applicable to industry or agriculture. 
Minerals, refuse. 

Models of machines and buildings. 
Molds for making flowers. 
Pease, dried. 

Periodicals, loose or bound. 
Photographs and views of the country. 
Plants, exotic, and their seeds. 
Portraits belonging to families residing 

in the country. 
Potatoes. 
Quicksilver. 
Rice. 
Rye. 
Samples of goods the duty on which 

shall not exceed $1. 
Seeds, flower, vegetable, or other kind 

not specified in this chapter. 
Telegraphic supplies. 
Vegetables, fresh. 

Wharves in the ports, appliances for. 
Wire, barbed, for fences, with hooks. 
Wrappings, ordinary, when the articles 

are not appraised on the gross weight: 

In bales, the wrapping cloth, oiled 



cloth, side boards and straps are con- 
sidered as wrappings. In cases, the 
tin or zinc lining, cardboard, paper and 
casings, unless expressly included in 
the coires'ponding appraisement. No 
blanket, sheet or^ other article men- 
tioned in sections 4 and 5 of this chap- 
ter will be considered as wrapping. 
The following articles are also free of 
duty, as per proclamation of the Presi- 
den t of the United States of America, 
dated October (1) 1890: 

1. Live animals. 

2. Barley, corn or maize, and rye. 

3. Cornmeal. 

4. Potatoes, peas and beans. 

5. Fresh vegetables. 

6. Rice. 

7. Hay and straw for forage. 

8. Tar, pitch, resin, turpentine and as- 
phalt. • 3 

9. Cotton-seed oil and other products of 
said seed. 

10. Quicksilver. 

11. Mineral coal. 

12. Guano and other fertilizers. 

13. Lumber and timber, in the rough or 
prepared for building purposes. 

14. Houses of wood or iron, complete or 
in parts. 

15. Fire-brick, lime, cement, shingles and 

tiles of clay or glass for roofing, and 
construction of buildings. 

16. Marble in slabs, columns, cornices, 
door and window frames and foun- 
tains, and dressed or undressed 
marble for buildings. 

17. Piping of clay, glazed or unglazed, 
for acqueducts and sewers. 



— 41 — 

8. Wire, plain or barbed, for fences, 
with hooks and staples for same. 

19. Printed books, bound or unbound; 
/ printed music; maps, charts and 

globes. 

20. Materials for the construction and 
equipment of railways. 

21. Materials for electrical illumination. 

22. Materials expressly for the construc- 
tion of wharves. 

23. Anchors and hoisting- tackle. 

24. Railings of cast or wrought iron. 

25. Balconies of cast or wrought iron. 

26. Window^ blinds of wood or metal. 
2. Iron fire-places or stoves. 

28. Machinery, including steam ma- 
chinery for agriculture and mining, 
and separate parts for the same. 

29. Gold and silver, in bullion, dust or 
coin. 



SECTION III. 
Articles Paying 10 Per Cent on Invoice 

Valuation. 
Acids, used in the arts and industries of 

the country, not included in the tariff 

on drugs and medicses. 
Artificial teeth. 
Axles, tires and wheels for wagons, carts 

or wheelbarrows. 
Barley. 
Barometers. 

Barrels, pipes and hogsheads, empty. 
Bellows, blacksmiths'. 
Books, for exercise in writing, drawing 

and mathematics, for use of schools. 
Candle molds. 
Cane, rattan, straw and palm leaf, for 

furniture or hats. 
Caldrons or boilers, iron or copper, for 



— 42 — 

sugar mills. 

Charts or maps, geographical 

Checks, metal, for use on haciendas. 

Clocks for towers, with dials and bells. 

Compasses, mariners'. 

Cotton, raw, with or without seed. 

Crucibles. 

Felt roofing or any invention for roofs. 

Fur, rabiit ro hare, for hat-making. 

Globes, geographical or astronomical, for 
study, all kinds. 

Hoops, wood or ron, for barrels, hogs- 
heads, etc. 

Horsehair. 

Hour-glasses. 

Instruments used in the sciences, arts, 
and agriculture, not otherwise classi- 
fied in this cede. 

Jewelry, gold at least .600 fine, silver at 
least .835 fine. 

Lasts, for boots and shoes; blocks, for 
wigs and hats, vrood. 

Lead in bulk or in sheets for roofs. 

Levels 

Lightning rods and appliances. 

Linear measures. 

Lithographic stone. 

Lumber, for building. 

Machinery for agriculture, mining and 
other arts, sciences and industries, and 
loose pieces belonging to same. 

Marble, rough, in bulk. 

Mausoleums or sarcophagi. 

Mathematical instrument cases. 

Music, printed and manuscript. 

Needles, knitting. 

Oil or haircloth for making hats. 

Paper, stamped for embroidery. 

Paper, for printing, in sheets at least 106 



— 43 — 

x65 centimeters. 
Patterns for tailors and dressmakers. 
Pipes, iron, lead or zinc, for conducting 

water, gas", etc. 
Platform scales for weighing over 5,00C 

pounds. 
Plows of all kinds. 
Poison, for curing hides. 
Presses, hydraulic, for extracting oil or 

for use in the agricultural industry. 
Printed books. 
Printers' ink. 
Printing office materials. 
Pulleys or blocks, wood or iron. 
Pumps, iron, with or without piping, for 

mines, irrigation or fires. 
Sheet iron for roofs. 
Shite for oofs. 

Statues, life-size, for models. 
Staves, barrel. 
Sugar molds. 

Surgical instrument cases. 
Table serv^ice, silver at least .835 fine 

gold at least .600 fine. 
Tar of all kinds. 
Type for printing. 
Wagons or carts of all kinds, and their 

appliances, except harness. 
Watches, gold at least .600 fine, silver at 

least .835 fine. 
Wheat. 

Wheelbarrows of all kinds. 
Wire masks for emptying bee>-hives. 
Wool, carded and uncarded. 
Zinc in bars. 



SECTION IV. 
Arti>cles Paying 25 Per Cent on Ap- 
praised Valuation. 

Dollars 



— 44 — 
Axles and spring's for carriages, 

net weight pound.. .212 

Carriages 
Closed, four - wheeled, elevated 
' seat for driver, silk uphos- 

stered each.. 578. 40 

Same, not upholstered with silk 

each ..361.50 

Open, four-wheeled, silk uphol- 
stered each ..289.20 

Same, not upholstered with silk 

each ..216.90 

Same, two-wheeled, all kinds 

each 86 76 

Same, four-wheeled, ordinary, 
wooden body, for passengers, 

each 144.. 60 

Elastic, of all kinds, for shoes, 

yard 289 

Harmoniums, each 44.38 

Harness — 
Double, with silver ornaments, 

per pair 144 . 60 

Single, with silver ornaments, 

each 57.84 

Double, with or without orna- 
ments of base metal, pair 57.84 

Single, with or without ornaments 

of base metals, each 23.136 

For wagons, carts and plows, each 5.784 
Leather — 
Patent, for footwear, halsters 
harsters, or other use, includ- 
ing paper wrappings, pound.. .578 

Calf-skin for footwear, carriage 

covers, including paper wrap- 
pings, pound 463 

Sheepskin, kid, morocca, chamois, 
buckskin, sole Itkther, uppers, 



^45 — 
and other dressed hides, except, 
patent leather, not mentioned 
in this code, including- paper 

wrappings, pound -89 

Pianos — 

Grand, each 506.10 

Half grand, each 289.20 

Upright, all kinds, each.. .. ,....216.90 
Square, triple-stringed, each.. . .202.44 
Square, double-stringed, each... 72.30 
Square, single-stringed, or mon- 

ochord, each 21.69 

Sacks, empty, for exporting pro- 
ducts of the country, each 145 

Steel, in bars or sheets, un- 
wroug-ht, gross weight, 100 

pounds 4.338 

Thread- 
Cotton, or yarn and wieking, un- 
bleached or bleached, for weav- 
ing, gross weight, pound 145 

Same, red cotton, gross weight, 

pound 362 

Same, other colors, gross weight, 

pound 264 

Tin, in bars, or sheets, gross 

weight, 100 pounds ^ 7.23 

Tin plate, gross weight, pound 043 

Worsted, for embroidery or knit- 
ting-, including weight of wrap- 
ping, pound 723 

Each and every article not enumerated 
in the above articles I, II, III, IV, pay 70 
of 100 ad valorem. 

Articles whose appraisement raises a 
doubt by reason of their size, make, 
quality, or classification shall be ap- 
praised the same as articles of a similar 
character. 

Articles not specified in this title which 
are not similar to any enumerated will 
pay 70 per cent on their invoice valua- 
tion. 



THIE AOT^INCY. 



In speaking- of Guatemala and her 
future, nothing has as yet been said 
about the prime factor in her develop- 
ment. This is the labor, or immigra- 
tion agency. This agency is located at 
No. 327 Exchange Alley, and is the 
only ojie in New Orleans; is under 
$5,000 bond as required by law. 

The agency supplies contractors 
with labor of all kinds, and give true 
and reliable information to travelers 
and those wanting to know about the 
country represented. 

All letters of inquiry will receive 
prompt attention and all information 
given can be relied upon implicitly. 



"Copies of this Book, together 
with Maps, etc., and any inlorcna- 
tioii desired, can be had by ad- 
dressing 

V. LAMANTIA, 
327 Exchange Alley, 
New Orleans, La. 



CENTRAL AMERICA 

Eailrcai d Ticket igSBcy 

» ♦ » 

FAIR WARNING. 



This Agency ships Laborers and 

Mechanics to Guatemala, for Railroad 
and Timber work, when so ordered by 
Contractors who then advance their 
transportation, and same is deducted 
from the first wages. 

When we call for Stationmen, 
(Diggers,) Rockmen, Masons, Stone 
Cutters, House or Bridge Carpenters, 
Wood Choppers, Trackmen, Tiemakers 
or Machinists, etc., we mean men who 
understand their business, able to do 
the vrork and make money by it. And 
no Cooks, Waiters, Clerks, Book or 
Timekeepers, Bakers, Cake or Pastry- 
men, Tailors, Barbers or Shoemakers 
need apply for same. 

Parties misrepresenting their trade 
when they apply for shipment to this 
Agency, will be put to work at anything, 
until their transportation is paid for, 
when they will be at liberty to work at 
whatever they please. Hence, we want 
the right sort of men we call for, and 

no others. 

V. LAMANTIA, 



4 



I 



'■Si.. 



\ 






SHOWING ALL LINES OF RAILROADS IN OPERATION ;nD PROPOSED. 




ISSTJE!I3 :B-S' THE5= 



STEAMSHIP SCHEDULE. 



TO GUATEMALA. 



TO HONUUIIAS. 



TO BLUEFIELDS. 



To Bluoflelds & Greytown 
TO COSTA RICA. 



V. LANIftNTIA, Agent, 

327 EXCHANGE ALLEY. 



GJBi2>TrD:RAJLi JSJlS/L:ElTlXCi^ :Et^XXjTlCJLTD ^osiscir. 



I^AA'IJ^NTI^^, A^ent, 



327 Eifccheange ^.llev, 



l^eAA^ ^rleo^ras, l^ei.- 



LIBRPRY OF CONGRESS 




I 



No one ^^^ g^--^^.^...^^ 

country without a copy of tlxis 
little Map and Guide of 



k AMANTIA* 



lATUT MA^ or J ^ { / -Am. i 

o r 1 : L^-\%*^''";^ iV* 




GUATEMALA and HONDURAS. 

CONTAININQ 

Historical and Geographical re- 
view of Transportation, Rail- 
roads, Emigration, Commerce^ 
Agriculture, General Informa- 
tion, Labor and Custom House 
: * -s, Etc. 



